Determining costs for workflows

ABSTRACT

Techniques are disclosed for modeling costs when editing a workflow process model. A request may be received to assign a cost factor to a workflow process step of the workflow process model. Responsive to the request, the cost factor may be assigned to the workflow process step, such that a traversal of the workflow process step by a transaction invoking the workflow process model results in the cost factor being included in a total cost to be charged for executing the transaction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/033,055, filed Feb. 23, 2011. The aforementioned relatedpatent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Advances in computer technology are allowing many organizations to movetowards a service-oriented architecture (SOA), where data flows andbusiness logic of an organization are implemented using assemblies ofweb services. In general, web services are software components capableof being accessed via standard network protocols using a standardizedmessaging system. Such web services are typically capable of exchangingdata with software applications that are written in various programminglanguages running on various platforms, thus enabling platformindependent implementations of data flows and business logic of anorganization.

In practice, an individual may utilize workflow modeling and runtimetechnologies and corresponding standards such as Business ProcessExecution Language (BPEL) to enable workflow-oriented applications, inwhich each business process is modeled as a workflow process model, alsoreferred to as a workflow. A workflow is a series of steps involving amix of services (software and human-provided) that may then be deployedand executed on a number of vendor provided, workflow runtime platforms,such as the IBM® WebSphere® Process Server. For example, a workflow maybe a number of loosely coupled web services sending and receivingmessages to perform an overall (business) process. A business processexpert may link and sequence web services, in a process known asorchestration, to meet a new or existing business requirement.Workflow-oriented applications are central to the SOA pattern and allowa set of generic software services to be used in a variety of differentcombinations to solve an ever evolving set of business needs.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention provide a computer-implemented method,computer program product and system for performing an operation thatincludes providing a tool for editing a workflow process model thatincludes: (i) a plurality of workflow process steps and (ii) branchinglogic comprising a precondition for traversing at least one workflowprocess step of the plurality of workflow process steps. The operationalso includes receiving a request to assign a cost factor to the atleast one workflow process step. The operation also includes assigningthe cost factor to the at least one workflow process step responsive tothe request, such that a traversal of the at least one workflow processstep by a first transaction invoking the workflow process model resultsin the cost factor being included in a total cost to be charged forexecuting the first transaction.

Another embodiment of the invention provides a computer-implementedmethod for performing an operation that includes receiving an indicationof (i) what subset of workflow process steps of a workflow process modelis traversed in executing a transaction by a processing environment and(ii) when each workflow process step of the subset is traversed, whereeach workflow process step of the subset has an assigned cost factor.The operation also includes receiving data describing resourceutilization of the processing environment at the time that thetransaction is executed. The operation also includes determining a totalcost to be charged for executing the transaction, based on at least thereceived indication, the assigned cost factors and the received data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above recited aspects are attained andcan be understood in detail, a more particular description ofembodiments of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had byreference to the appended drawings.

It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate onlytypical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to beconsidered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to otherequally effective embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a cloud computing node, accordingto one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cloud computing environment, according to oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates abstraction model layers, according to one embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 4 depicts a block diagram of a networked system for modeling a costto be charged for executing a transaction, according to one embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary workflow process model, according to oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart depicting a method for creating a workflow processmodel that includes cost factors, according to one embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart depicting a method for determining a total cost tobe charged for executing a transaction, according to one embodiment ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide techniques for modelingcosts to be charged for executing a transaction. As used herein, atransaction refers to any unit of work performed responsive to a requestthat invokes a workflow process model or causes the workflow processmodel to be invoked. One embodiment of the invention provides a tool forediting a workflow process model. The workflow process model may bedescribed in a workflow process modeling language such as BusinessProcess Execution Language (BPEL). Of course, other process modelinglanguages (or approaches generally) may be used. The workflow processmodel may include multiple workflow process steps. The workflow processmodel may also include branching logic specifying a precondition fortraversing at least one workflow process step, wherein the preconditionis expressed as a function of one or more properties of the transaction.

The tool may graphically output the workflow process model for displayto a user in one or more graphical user interface (GUI) screens. Theuser may input commands to the tool to edit the workflow process modelusing one or more input devices such as a mouse and/or keyboard. Forexample, one command may allow a user to assign a cost factor to at aworkflow process step. The cost factor represents a monetary cost to becharged for traversing the at least one workflow process step. Themonetary cost may be expressed in the form of any paper currency,virtual currency, service credit, etc. The cost factor may be a fixedcost or may vary based on properties of the transaction being executed.The cost factor may be stored as part of the workflow process model.

In one embodiment, a service is provided for executing requestedtransactions, where each transaction invokes a workflow process model.The service determines a cost to be charged for executing each requestedtransaction. The cost may be determined based on the cost factors storedin the workflow process model. As described above, the cost factors maybe assigned to specific workflow process steps of the workflow processmodel. Accordingly, the service determines a cost to be charged forexecuting a transaction, based on a permutation of process steps thatare actually traversed in executing the transaction—and in accordancewith the cost factors assigned by the tool for editing the workflowprocess model.

Advantageously, determining the cost based on which workflow processsteps are traversed may increase revenue of the service provider and/orimprove satisfaction of customers requesting execution of transactions,compared to merely determining the cost based on whether a givenworkflow is invoked or based on resource utilization of the givenworkflow. Customer satisfaction may be improved because the costsdetermined using the techniques disclosed herein may more accuratelyreflect a level of service delivered to the customer. For example, atransaction that does not satisfy a precondition of a workflow processstep—and hence does not traverse the workflow process step—does notincur the cost factor associated with the workflow process step. Inother words, each transaction only incurs cost factors of workflowprocess steps actually traversed by the respective transaction.Accordingly, the level of service delivered to the customer may bemodeled independently for each workflow process step of a workflowprocess model.

In the following, reference is made to embodiments of the invention.However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited tospecific described embodiments. Instead, any combination of thefollowing features and elements, whether related to differentembodiments or not, is contemplated to implement and practice theinvention. Furthermore, although embodiments of the invention mayachieve advantages over other possible solutions and/or over the priorart, whether or not a particular advantage is achieved by a givenembodiment is not limiting of the invention. Thus, the followingaspects, features, embodiments and advantages are merely illustrativeand are not considered elements or limitations of the appended claimsexcept where explicitly recited in a claim(s). Likewise, reference to“the invention” shall not be construed as a generalization of anyinventive subject matter disclosed herein and shall not be considered tobe an element or limitation of the appended claims except whereexplicitly recited in a claim(s).

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, method or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more computer readablemedium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality and operation of possible implementations ofsystems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

It is understood in advance that although this disclosure includes adetailed description on cloud computing, implementation of the teachingsrecited herein are not limited to a cloud computing environment. Rather,embodiments of the present invention are capable of being implemented inconjunction with any other type of computing environment now known orlater developed.

For convenience, the Detailed Description includes the followingdefinitions which have been derived from the “Draft NIST WorkingDefinition of Cloud Computing” by Peter Mell and Tim Grance, dated Oct.7, 2009.

Cloud computing is a model of service delivery for enabling convenient,on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computingresources (e.g., networks, network bandwidth, servers, processing,memory, storage, applications, virtual machines, and services) that canbe rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort orinteraction with a provider of the service. This cloud model may includeat least five characteristics, at least three service models and atleast four deployment models.

Characteristics are as follows:

On-demand self-service: a cloud consumer can unilaterally provisioncomputing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, asneeded automatically without requiring human interaction with theservice's provider.

Broad network access: capabilities are available over a network andaccessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneousthin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops and PDAs).

Resource pooling: the provider's computing resources are pooled to servemultiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physicaland virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according todemand. There is a sense of location independence in that the consumergenerally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of theprovided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher levelof abstraction (e.g., country, state or datacenter).

Rapid elasticity: capabilities can be rapidly and elasticallyprovisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out andrapidly released to quickly scale in. To the consumer, the capabilitiesavailable for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can bepurchased in any quantity at any time.

Measured service: cloud systems automatically control and optimizeresource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level ofabstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage,processing, bandwidth and active user accounts). Resource usage can bemonitored, controlled and reported providing transparency for both theprovider and consumer of the utilized service.

Service Models are as follows:

Software as a Service (SaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto use the provider's applications running on a cloud infrastructure.The applications are accessible from various client devices through athin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based-e-mail).The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloudinfrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, storage oreven individual application capabilities, with the possible exception oflimited user-specific application configuration settings.

Platform as a Service (PaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquiredapplications created using programming languages and tools supported bythe provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure including networks, servers, operating systems orstorage, but has control over the deployed applications and possiblyapplication hosting environment configurations.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): the capability provided to theconsumer is to provision processing, storage, networks and otherfundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy andrun arbitrary software, which can include operating systems andapplications. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems storage,deployed applications, and possibly limited control of select networkingcomponents (e.g., host firewalls).

Deployment Models are as follows:

Private cloud: the cloud infrastructure is operated solely for anorganization. It may be managed by the organization or a third party andmay exist on-premises or off-premises.

Community cloud: the cloud infrastructure is shared by severalorganizations and supports a specific community that has shared concerns(e.g., mission, security requirements, policy and complianceconsiderations). It may be managed by the organizations or a third partyand may exist on-premises or off-premises.

Public cloud: the cloud infrastructure is made available to the generalpublic or a large industry group and is owned by an organization sellingcloud services.

Hybrid cloud: the cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or moreclouds (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities butare bound together by standardized or proprietary technology thatenables data and application portability (e.g., cloud bursting forload-balancing between clouds).

A cloud computing environment is service oriented with a focus onstatelessness, low coupling, modularity and semantic interoperability.At the heart of cloud computing is an infrastructure comprising anetwork of interconnected nodes.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a schematic of an example of a cloud computingnode is shown. Cloud computing node 10 is only one example of a suitablecloud computing node and is not intended to suggest any limitation as tothe scope of use or functionality of embodiments of the inventiondescribed herein. Regardless, cloud computing node 10 is capable ofbeing implemented and/or performing any of the functionality set forthhereinabove.

In cloud computing node 10 there is a computer system/server 12, whichis operational with numerous other general purpose or special purposecomputing system environments or configurations. Examples of well-knowncomputing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may besuitable for use with computer system/server 12 include, but are notlimited to, personal computer systems, server computer systems, thinclients, thick clients, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessorsystems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmableconsumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputer systems, mainframecomputer systems, and distributed cloud computing environments thatinclude any of the above systems or devices, and the like.

Computer system/server 12 may be described in the general context ofcomputer system-executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by a computer system. Generally, program modules may includeroutines, programs, objects, components, logic, data structures, and soon that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes. Computer system/server 12 may be practiced in distributed cloudcomputing environments where tasks are performed by remote processingdevices that are linked through a communications network. In adistributed cloud computing environment, program modules may be locatedin both local and remote computer system storage media including memorystorage devices.

As shown in FIG. 1, computer system/server 12 in cloud computing node 10is shown in the form of a general-purpose computing device. Thecomponents of computer system/server 12 may include, but are not limitedto, one or more processors or processing units 16, a system memory 28,and a bus 18 that couples various system components including systemmemory 28 to processor 16.

Bus 18 represents one or more of any of several types of bus structures,including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, anaccelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus using any of avariety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation,such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus,Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, VideoElectronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus and PeripheralComponent Interconnects (PCI) bus.

Computer system/server 12 typically includes a variety of computersystem readable media. Such media may be any available media that isaccessible by computer system/server 12, and it includes both volatileand non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.

System memory 28 can include computer system readable media in the formof volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 30 and/or cachememory 32. Computer system/server 12 may further include otherremovable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storagemedia. By way of example only, storage system 34 can be provided forreading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media(not shown and typically called a “hard drive”). Although not shown, amagnetic disk drive for reading from and writing to a removable,non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppy disk”), and an optical diskdrive for reading from or writing to a removable, non-volatile opticaldisk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other optical media can be provided.In such instances, each can be connected to bus 18 by one or more datamedia interfaces. As will be further depicted and described below,memory 28 may include at least one program product having a set (e.g.,at least one) of program modules that are configured to carry out thefunctions of embodiments of the invention.

Program/utility 40, having a set (at least one) of program modules 42,may be stored in memory 28 by way of example, and not limitation, aswell as an operating system, one or more application programs, otherprogram modules, and program data. Each of the operating systems, one ormore application programs, other program modules and program data orsome combination thereof, may include an implementation of a networkingenvironment. Program modules 42 generally carry out the functions and/ormethodologies of embodiments of the invention as described herein.

Computer system/server 12 may also communicate with one or more externaldevices 14 such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display 24, etc.;one or more devices that enable a user to interact with computersystem/server 12; and/or any devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.)that enable computer system/server 12 to communicate with one or moreother computing devices. Such communication can occur via I/O interfaces22. Still yet, computer system/server 12 can communicate with one ormore networks such as a local area network (LAN), a general wide areanetwork (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g., the Internet) via networkadapter 20. As depicted, network adapter 20 communicates with the othercomponents of computer system/server 12 via bus 18. It should beunderstood that although not shown, other hardware and/or softwarecomponents could be used in conjunction with computer system/server 12.Examples, include, but are not limited to: microcode, device drivers,redundant processing units, external disk drive arrays, RAID systems,tape drives, and data archival storage systems, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 2, illustrative cloud computing environment 50 isdepicted. As shown, cloud computing environment 50 comprises one or morecloud computing nodes 10 with which local computing devices used bycloud consumers, such as, for example, personal digital assistant (PDA)or cellular telephone 54A, desktop computer 54B, laptop computer 54Cand/or automobile computer system 54N may communicate. Nodes 10 maycommunicate with one another. They may be grouped (not shown) physicallyor virtually, in one or more networks, such as Private, Community,Public, or Hybrid clouds as described hereinabove, or a combinationthereof. This allows cloud computing environment 50 to offerinfrastructure, platforms and/or software as services for which a cloudconsumer does not need to maintain resources on a local computingdevice. It is understood that the types of computing devices 54A-N shownin FIG. 2 are intended to be illustrative only and that computing nodes10 and cloud computing environment 50 can communicate with any type ofcomputerized device over any type of network and/or network addressableconnection (e.g., using a web browser).

Referring now to FIG. 3, a set of functional abstraction layers providedby cloud computing environment 50 (FIG. 2) is shown. It should beunderstood in advance that the components, layers and functions shown inFIG. 3 are intended to be illustrative only and embodiments of theinvention are not limited thereto. As depicted, the following layers andcorresponding functions are provided:

Hardware and software layer 60 includes hardware and softwarecomponents. Examples of hardware components include mainframes, in oneexample IBM® zSeries® systems; RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer)architecture based servers, in one example IBM pSeries® systems; IBMxSeries® systems; IBM BladeCenter® systems; storage devices; networksand networking components. Examples of software components includenetwork application server software, in one example IBM WebSphere®application server software; and database software, in one example IBMDB2C®, database software. (IBM, zSeries, pSeries, xSeries, BladeCenter,WebSphere, and DB2 are trademarks of International Business MachinesCorporation registered in many jurisdictions worldwide)

Virtualization layer 62 provides an abstraction layer from which thefollowing examples of virtual entities may be provided: virtual servers;virtual storage; virtual networks, including virtual private networks;virtual applications and operating systems; and virtual clients.

In one example, management layer 64 may provide the functions describedbelow. Resource provisioning provides dynamic procurement of computingresources and other resources that are utilized to perform tasks withinthe cloud computing environment. Metering and Pricing provide costtracking as resources are utilized within the cloud computingenvironment, and billing or invoicing for consumption of theseresources. In one example, these resources may comprise applicationsoftware licenses. Security provides identity verification for cloudconsumers and tasks, as well as protection for data and other resources.User portal provides access to the cloud computing environment forconsumers and system administrators. Service level management providescloud computing resource allocation and management such that requiredservice levels are met. Service Level Agreement (SLA) planning andfulfillment provide pre-arrangement for, and procurement of, cloudcomputing resources for which a future requirement is anticipated inaccordance with an SLA.

Workloads layer 66 provides examples of functionality for which thecloud computing environment may be utilized. Examples of workloads andfunctions which may be provided from this layer include: mapping andnavigation; software development and lifecycle management; virtualclassroom education delivery; data analytics processing; transactionprocessing; and mobile desktop.

Embodiments of the invention may be provided to end users through acloud computing infrastructure. Cloud computing generally refers to theprovision of scalable computing resources as a service over a network.More formally, cloud computing may be defined as a computing capabilitythat provides an abstraction between the computing resource and itsunderlying technical architecture (e.g., servers, storage, networks),enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool ofconfigurable computing resources that can be rapidly provisioned andreleased with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.Thus, cloud computing allows a user to access virtual computingresources (e.g., storage, data, applications, and even completevirtualized computing systems) in “the cloud,” without regard for theunderlying physical systems (or locations of those systems) used toprovide the computing resources.

Typically, cloud computing resources are provided to a user on apay-per-use basis, where users are charged only for the computingresources actually used (e.g., an amount of storage space consumed by auser or a number of virtualized systems instantiated by the user). Auser can access any of the resources that reside in the cloud at anytime, and from anywhere across the Internet. In context of the presentinvention, a user may access applications (e.g., a service for runninganalytics on medical images) or related data available in the cloud. Theaccessed applications could execute on a computing system in the cloudand compute a cost to be charged for executing a transaction requestedby the user, where the cost is determined based at least in part onwhich workflow process steps of a workflow process model are traversedin executing the transaction. The accessed applications could then storean indication of the cost at a storage location in the cloud. Thus, theuser may access the applications from any computing system attached to anetwork connected to the cloud (e.g., the Internet) and be charged basedon the workflow process step(s) traversed.

FIG. 4 depicts a block diagram of a networked system 400 for modeling acost to be charged for executing a transaction, according to oneembodiment of the invention. The networked system 400 includes acomputer 402. The computer 402 may also be connected to other computersvia the network 430. In general, the network 430 may be atelecommunications network and/or a wide area network (WAN). In aparticular embodiment, the network 430 is the Internet.

The computer 402 generally includes a processor 404 connected via a bus412 to a memory 406, a network interface device 410, a storage 408, aninput device 414, and an output device 416. The computer 402 isgenerally under the control of an operating system. Examples ofoperating systems include UNIX, versions of the Microsoft Windows®operating system, and distributions of the Linux® operating system. Moregenerally, any operating system supporting the functions disclosedherein may be used. The processor 404 is included to be representativeof a single CPU, multiple CPUs, a single CPU having multiple processingcores, and the like. Similarly, the memory 406 may be a random accessmemory. While the memory 406 is shown as a single identity, it should beunderstood that the memory 406 may comprise a plurality of modules, andthat the memory 406 may exist at multiple levels, from high speedregisters and caches to lower speed but larger DRAM chips. The networkinterface device 410 may be any type of network communications deviceallowing the computer 402 to communicate with other computers via thenetwork 430.

The storage 408 may be a persistent storage device. Although the storage408 is shown as a single unit, the storage 408 may be a combination offixed and/or removable storage devices, such as fixed disc drives, solidstate drives (SSD), floppy disc drives, tape drives, removable memorycards or optical storage. The memory 406 and the storage 408 may be partof one virtual address space spanning multiple primary and secondarystorage devices.

The input device 414 may be any device for providing input to thecomputer 402. For example, a keyboard, keypad, light pen, touch-screen,track-ball, or speech recognition unit, audio/video player, and the likemay be used. The output device 416 may be any device for providingoutput to a user of the computer 402. For example, the output device 416may be any conventional display screen or set of speakers, along withtheir respective interface cards, i.e., video cards and sound cards (notshown). Although shown separately from the input device 414, the outputdevice 416 and input device 414 may be combined. For example, a displayscreen with an integrated touch-screen, a display with an integratedkeyboard, or a speech recognition unit combined with a text speechconverter may be used.

As shown, the memory 406 of the computer 402 includes a tool 448 forcreating and/or editing workflow process models, a service 450 forexecuting requested transactions, and a request 458 for executing atransaction. The storage 408 of the computer 402 includes a workflowprocess model 452 and a total cost 460 for executing the transaction.The workflow process model 452 includes workflow process steps 454, oneor more of which may be assigned a cost factor 456.

In one embodiment, a user providing the workflow process model 452 maydesire to execute the workflow process model 452 as a billable servicein a cloud environment. Accordingly, the user may provide the service450, where the service 450 is configured to execute transactions thatinvoke the workflow process model 452. As used herein, the userproviding the workflow process model 452 and/or the service 450 may alsobe referred to herein as a service provider. Further, the service 450 isalso configured to determine the total cost 460 for each transactionthat invokes the workflow process model. In accordance with thetechniques disclosed herein, the total cost 460 for each transaction maybe determined based on which particular workflow process steps aretraversed in executing the respective transaction.

To this end, in one embodiment, the user may use the tool 448 to assigncost factors to one or more workflow process steps of the workflowprocess model 452. Each cost factor may be a fixed cost per traversal ofthe process step or may vary based on a property of a transactioninvoking the workflow process model 452. For example, the user mayexpress a cost factor as a function of a count of images processed inexecuting a transaction, an amount of storage space used in storing theimages, an amount of processing power used in processing the images, atime spent in processing the images, etc. Of course, the type and amountof cost factor for a workflow step may depend on the particular workflowstep involved.

In one embodiment, the user providing the workflow process model 452 mayassign cost factors to the workflow process model 452 at a finer degreeof granularity (e.g., at a workflow process step level rather than at aworkflow level). The user may assign a cost factor to a workflow processstep to recover expenses incurred in the cloud environment as a resultof performing the workflow process step. Additionally or alternatively,the user may assign a cost factor to a workflow process step to captureadditional value delivered to a customer requesting execution of thetransaction. For example, the user may deem a workflow process step tobe more valuable—and, thus, to warrant a higher cost factor—if theworkflow process step provides the customer with a higher quality ofservice or provides premium features such as data analytics.

In one embodiment, after the user modifies the workflow process model452 to include cost factors, the service 450 uses the workflow processmodel 452 to compute the total cost 460 for executing the transactionrequested by the customer. To this end, the service 450 may record whichworkflow process steps are traversed in executing the transaction. Theservice 450 may subsequently map the recorded workflow process steps tothe workflow process model 452, adding the cost factor assigned to eachtraversed step to the total cost 460. In this regard, the service 450may receive an indication of what subset of workflow process steps ofthe workflow process model is recorded as being traversed in executingthe transaction by the processing environment. The service 450 may alsoreceive an indication of a time during which each workflow process stepof the subset is traversed. The service 450 may also receive datadescribing resource utilization of the processing environment at thetime that the transaction is executed (e.g., from log datacharacterizing historical resource utilization of the processingenvironment). The service 450 may then determine a total cost to becharged for executing the transaction, based on the receivedindications, the assigned cost factors and the received data. In analternative embodiment, the service 450 computes the total cost 460 inreal-time—i.e., while the transaction is executing. By including onlythe cost factors of traversed steps, the service provider may charge thecustomer an amount that is more reflective of the value delivered to thecustomer.

Although the features above are described with reference to the service450, in alternative embodiments, one or more of the features of theservice 450 may be performed by other processes. For example, in oneembodiment, the recording of the workflow process steps is performed bya monitoring tool of the service provider, and the cost computation isperformed by a billing tool of the service provider.

To facilitate understanding of the disclosure, embodiments are hereindescribed with reference to a use case of a medical imaging serviceexecuting in a cloud environment. Those skilled in the art willrecognize, however, the use case of the medical imaging service ismerely exemplary and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure.

Assume that a customer requests for a transaction to be executed, wherethe transaction invokes a workflow process model for archiving medicalimages. Further, assume that the workflow process model includesaneurysm detection for medical images of the human head. In oneembodiment, the service provider may assign a first cost factor to astep for archiving the medical images. The service provider may assign asecond cost factor to a step for performing aneurysm detection.Accordingly, if the customer is requesting to archive medical images ofthe human head, both steps are traversed and the service provider maycharge the customer an amount that includes both the first cost factorand the second cost factor. Alternatively, if the customer is requestingto archive medical images of the human chest, then the medical imagesare archived but the aneurysm detection is not performed. In thisscenario, the service provider may charge the customer an amount thatincludes the first cost factor but does not include the second costfactor. Advantageously, by including only the cost factors of workflowprocess steps actually traversed by a transaction, the service providermay charge the customer an amount that is more reflective of the valuedelivered to the customer in executing the transaction.

As another example, assume that the service provider desires to modelcosts for a workflow process model, where the workflow process modelincludes workflow process steps for storing medical images, fortransferring the medical images to specified destinations, and forperforming analytics on the medical images, respectively. The workflowprocess model may also include branching logic that specifiespreconditions for one or more of the workflow process steps. Whiledesigning the workflow process model, the service provider may assign acost factor to the workflow process step for storing the medical images,where the cost factor is expressed as a function of the storage spaceused in storing the medical images. The service provider may also assigna cost factor to the workflow process step for performing analytics onthe medical images, where the cost factor is expressed as a function ofprocessor resources used in performing the analytics on the medicalimages. The service provider may also assign a cost factor to theworkflow process step for transferring the medical images, where thecost factor is expressed as a function of an amount of bandwidth used intransferring the medical images. Additionally, suppose that the workflowprocess model further includes a workflow process step for automaticimage routing. The service provider may assign a cost factor to theworkflow process step for automatic image routing, where the cost factoris expressed as a function of the number of the medical images that areautomatically routed. Accordingly, the service provider may model costsfor the workflow process model as a granularity of a workflow processstep, during a time that the service provider is designing the workflowprocess model. As such, the costs may be captured as part of theworkflow process model during design time.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary workflow process model 500 forprocessing medical images, according to one embodiment of the invention.Assume that the workflow process model 500 is invoked by a transactionwhich execution is requested by a customer. As shown, the workflowprocess model 500 includes multiple workflow process steps 502-526 andbranching logic 508, 512, 516. The workflow process steps include afirst step 502 that specifies to receive medical images for processing.The first step 502 is followed by a second step 504 that specifies toaudit the request by the customer. The second step 504 is followed by athird step 506 that specifies to store the medical images. The thirdstep 506 is followed by a first branching logic 508 that specifies aprecondition for traversing a fourth step 510, the precondition beingthat a service level agreement (SLA) of the customer includes an archiveservice. The fourth step 510 specifies to archive the medical images.For example, the medical images may be archived in the cloudenvironment, to provide long-term preservation of the medical images orto provide integration across an enterprise, e.g., a medical institutionhaving multiple medical facilities.

The first branching logic 508 is followed by a second branching logic512 that specifies a precondition for traversing a fifth step 514, theprecondition being that the request specifies to perform image routing.The fifth step 514 specifies to send the medical images to each imagedestination specified in the request. The second branching logic 512 isfollowed by a third branching logic 516 that directs analytic processingto be performed based on image type.

To this end, the third branching logic 516 specifies preconditions 516for traversing a sixth step 518, seventh and eight steps 520, 522, and aninth step 524, respectively. A first precondition specifies to traversethe sixth step 518 upon determining that the medical images are computedaxial tomography (CT) images of the human chest. The sixth step 518specifies to perform thick slab rendering of the medical images and istraversed only upon determining that the medical images are CT images ofthe human chest. Alternatively, a second precondition specifies totraverse the seventh and eighth steps 520, 522 upon determining that themedical images are magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) images of thehuman head. The seventh step 520 specifies to perform vessel separationprocessing on the medical images, and the eighth step 522 specifies toperform aneurysm detection based on the medical images. Stillalternatively, a third precondition specifies to traverse the ninth step524 upon determining that the medical images are magnetic resonance (MR)images of the human head. The ninth step 524 specifies to perform cancerchange detection based on the medical images. The third branching logic516 is followed by a tenth step 526 that specifies to generate a replyto the customer regarding the received and/or processed medical images.

In an alternative embodiment, one or more of the workflow process stepsmay be a task that is performed by a human. For example, the workflowprocess model may include a step in which a radiologist interprets a setof medical images and generates a report. The techniques disclosedherein may be used to assign costs to the workflow process steps,whether the workflow process steps are performed by a human or executedby a computer.

As described above, in one embodiment, the user may assign cost factorsto the workflow process model 452 using the tool 448. Each cost factormay be expressed as a mathematical expression or formula. Depending onthe embodiment, the tool 448 may also be used to create and/or edit themathematical expression or formula. As shown, the exemplary workflowprocess model 500 includes six cost factors 456 ₁₋₆. A first cost factor456 ₁, assigned to the second step 504, specifies a monetary cost as afunction of a count of audit events generated. A second cost factor 456₂, assigned to the third step 506, specifies a monetary cost as afunction of an amount of storage space used in storing the medicalimages. For example, at least in some cases, the amount of storage spaceused in storing medical images may vary greatly, depending on whetherthe medical images are generated from an X-ray scan or a full body CTscan. In an alternative embodiment, the second cost factor 456 ₂specifies a monetary cost as a function of a count of medical imagesstored, rather than the amount of storage space used.

As shown, a third cost factor 456 ₃, assigned to the fourth step 510,specifies a monetary cost as a function of an amount of storage spaceused in archiving the medical images. A fourth cost factor 456 ₄,assigned to the fifth step 514, specifies a monetary cost as a functionof a count of the medical images and a count of image destinationsspecified in the request. A fifth cost factor 456 ₅, assigned to thesixth step 518, the seventh step 520, and the eighth step 522,respectively, specifies a monetary cost as a function of a count ofanalytic processes executed for the transaction. A sixth cost factor 456₆, assigned to the ninth step 524, specifies a monetary cost as afunction compute resources used in performing cancer change detection,where the compute resources are expressed in processor-minutes.

Advantageously, by assigning the cost factors 456 ₁₋₆ to the exemplaryworkflow process model 500 using the tool 448, the user mayindependently model customer value for each workflow process step of theexemplary workflow process model 500. The assigned cost factors 456 ₁₋₆are used by the service 450 in determining the total cost 460 that thecustomer is charged for executing the transaction, whereby the totalcost 460 is more reflective of the value derived by the user inexecuting the transaction, compared to determining a total cost in theabsence of the cost factors 456 ₁₋₆, e.g., by merely considering whethera given workflow is invoked or the compute resources used by the givenworkflow. Accordingly, customer satisfaction may be improved and/orrevenue for the service provider may be increased in at least somecases.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart depicting a method 600 for creating a workflowprocess model that includes cost factors, according to one embodiment ofthe invention. As shown, the method 600 begins at step 610, where theuser is provided a tool for editing the workflow process model. Theworkflow process model is described in a workflow process modelinglanguage and includes workflow process steps and branching logic. Thebranching logic includes a precondition for traversing at least one ofthe workflow process steps.

At step 620, the tool receives a user request to assign a cost factor tothe at least one workflow process step. At step 630, the tool assignsthe cost factor to the at least one workflow process step, responsive tothe user request, such that a traversal of the at least one workflowprocess step by a first transaction invoking the workflow process modelresults in the cost factor being included in a total cost to be chargedfor executing the first transaction. After the step 630, the method 600terminates.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart depicting a method 700 for determining a totalcost to be charged by the service 450 for executing a transaction,according to one embodiment of the invention. As shown, the method 700begins at step 710, where the service 450 enters a loop to evaluate eachworkflow process step traversed by the transaction. At step 720, theservice 450 determines whether a cost factor is assigned to therespective workflow process step. If so, the method 700 proceeds to step730, where the service 450 adds the cost factor to the total cost to becharged for executing the transaction. After the step 730 or if no costfactor is assigned to the respective workflow process step (step 720),the method 700 proceeds to step 740, where the service 450 determineswhether more workflow process steps remain to be evaluated. If so, themethod 700 returns to the step 710, where the service 450 evaluates theremaining workflow process steps. Otherwise, the method 700 terminates.

Advantageously, embodiments of the invention provide techniques formodeling costs specific to workflow process steps of a workflow processmodel, at a time of designing the workflow process model. One embodimentof the invention provides the tool for editing the workflow processmodel. A user creating and/or editing the workflow process model may usethe tool to assign cost factors to the workflow process steps.Subsequently, any transaction that invokes the workflow process modeland that traverses a given workflow process step incurs the cost factorassigned to the given workflow process step. On the other hand, atransaction does not incur the cost factor assigned to the workflowprocess step if the transaction does not traverse the workflow processstep. Accordingly, a total cost to be charged for executing thetransaction may be computed based on the cost factors assigned to theworkflow process steps traversed by the transaction. Advantageously, byassigning costs to each workflow process step of a workflow processmodel, the user may more conveniently and accurately model valuedelivered to a customer requesting execution of the transaction, therebyimproving customer satisfaction and/or increasing revenue of the serviceprovider at least in some cases.

While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention,other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised withoutdeparting from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof isdetermined by the claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method to provide workflowprocess models having step-specific cost attributes based on transactionand environment properties, the computer-implemented method comprising:providing a tool having a graphical user interface (GUI) and thatfacilitates editing a workflow process model comprising: (i) a pluralityof workflow process steps and (ii) branching logic comprising aprecondition for traversing at least a first workflow process step ofthe plurality of workflow process steps; receiving, by the tool, arequest to assign a step-specific cost attribute to the first workflowprocess step, wherein the step-specific cost attribute is a predefinedfunction of a plurality of distinct properties including a transactionproperty and an environment property; and assigning the cost factor tothe first workflow process step responsive to the request and byoperation of one or more computer processors, such that traversal of thefirst workflow process step by a first transaction invoking the workflowprocess model results in the step-specific cost attribute being includedin a total cost to charge for executing the first transactions; whereinthe workflow process model is aborted mid-execution by a workflowruntime platform in order to comply with a cost threshold specified in aservice level agreement, wherein the cost threshold comprises at leastone of a step-specific cost threshold and a model-specific costthreshold.
 2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein thetotal cost to charge for executing the first transaction is a functionof which specific one or more workflow process steps of the workflowprocess model are traversed in executing the first transaction.
 3. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a second transactioninvoking the workflow process model and not traversing the at least oneworkflow process step does not incur the step-specific cost attribute ina total cost to charge for executing the second transaction.
 4. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the step-specific costattribute is stored as part of the workflow process model.
 5. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the workflow processmodel is described in a workflow process modeling language.
 6. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the workflow processmodeling language comprises Business Process Execution Language (BPEL).7. A computer-implemented method of cost determination for workflowprocess models having step-specific cost attributes based on transactionand environment properties, the computer-implemented method comprising:receiving an indication of: (i) a subset of workflow process steps of aworkflow process model traversed in executing a transaction by aprocessing environment and (ii) when each workflow process step of thesubset is traversed; wherein the workflow process model is abortedmid-execution by a workflow runtime platform in order to comply with acost threshold specified in a service level agreement, wherein the costthreshold comprises at least one of a step-specific cost threshold and amodel-specific cost threshold, wherein at least a first workflow processstep of the subset has an assigned step-specific cost attribute, whereinthe step-specific cost attribute is a predefined function of a pluralityof distinct properties including a transaction property and anenvironment property, wherein the step-specific cost threshold isassigned via a tool that facilitates editing the workflow process model,the tool having a graphical user interface (GUI); receiving datadescribing resource utilization of the processing environment at thetime that the transaction is executed; and by operation of one or morecomputer processors, determining a total cost be charge for executingthe transaction, based on at least the received indication, the assignedstep-specific cost attribute, and the received data.
 8. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the workflow processmodel is abortable mid-execution in order to comply with, in respectiveinstances, each of: (i) the step-specific cost threshold and (ii) themodel-specific cost threshold; wherein a second transaction invoking theworkflow process model and not traversing the first workflow processstep does not incur the step-specific cost attribute in a total cost tocharge for executing the second transaction, wherein the step-specificcost attribute is stored as part of the workflow process model, whereinthe workflow process model is described in a workflow process modelinglanguage.
 9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein in afirst instance, the workflow process model is aborted mid-execution inorder to comply with the step-specific cost threshold, wherein in asecond instance, the workflow process model is aborted mid-execution inorder to comply with the model-specific cost threshold; wherein thestep-specific cost attribute is a predefined function of a degree ofoverall utilization of a first resource type in the processingenvironment at a time that the first transaction traverses the firstworkflow process step, wherein the step-specific cost attribute isassigned to the first workflow process step such that traversal of thefirst workflow process step by the first transaction results in thestep-specific cost attribute being calculated based on the predefinedfunction and being included in the total cost to charge for executingthe first transaction.
 10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9,wherein the transaction property comprises a resource amount, of thefirst resource type, that is used by the first transaction invoking theworkflow process model, in traversing the first workflow process step;wherein the environment property comprises the degree of overallutilization of the first resource type in the processing environment atthe time that the first transaction traverses the first workflow processstep.
 11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein therequest is received from a requesting entity, wherein the total costcomprises a total cost to charge the requesting entity for executing thefirst transaction, wherein the step-specific cost attribute of the firstworkflow process step is positively correlated with both: (i) theresource amount of the first resource type and (ii) the degree ofoverall utilization, of the first resource type, in the processingenvironment.
 12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, whereinthe provided tool is configured to independently assign a respectivestep-specific cost attribute that pertains to each individual resourcetype selected from: (i) processor utilization in the processingenvironment; (ii) memory utilization in the processing environment;(iii) storage utilization in the processing environment; and (iv)network utilization in the processing environment.
 13. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the plurality ofworkflow process steps of the workflow process model includes: the firstworkflow process step, of which the transaction and environmentproperties of the step-specific cost attribute pertain to processorutilization and do not pertain to any of memory utilization, storageutilization, and network utilization; and a second workflow process stephaving a step-specific cost attribute including transaction andenvironment properties pertaining to memory utilization and notpertaining to any of processor utilization, storage utilization, andnetwork utilization.
 14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13,wherein the plurality of workflow process steps of the workflow processmodel further includes: a third workflow process step having astep-specific cost attribute including transaction and environmentproperties pertaining to storage utilization and not pertaining to anyof processor utilization, memory utilization, and network utilization;and a fourth workflow process step having a step-specific cost attributeincluding transaction and environment properties pertaining to networkutilization and not pertaining to any of processor utilization, memoryutilization, and storage utilization.
 15. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 14, wherein the step-specific cost attribute of each ofthe first, second, third, and fourth workflow process steps ispositively correlated with both: (i) the resource amount of the resourcetype of the respective workflow process step and (ii) the degree ofoverall utilization, of the resource type of the respective workflowprocess step, in the processing environment.
 16. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the resource amount ofthe resource type of each of the first, second, third, and fourthworkflow process steps is a different resource amount, wherein theworkflow process model further includes step-specific branching logicspecifying a precondition for traversing the first workflow processstep.
 17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the totalcost to charge for executing the first transaction is a function of: (i)which specific one or more workflow process steps of the workflowprocess model are traversed in executing the first transaction; (ii) theresource amounts used in the traversed workflow process steps; and (iii)an overall degree of utilization of the resource type corresponding tothe resource amount used, in the processing environment at the time oftraversing the workflow process steps.
 18. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 17, wherein the workflow process model is adapted forexecution by an application separate from the tool, wherein theapplication configured to abort execution of the first workflow processstep to comply with the step-specific cost threshold, wherein theapplication is further configured to abort execution of the workflowprocess model to comply with the model-specific cost threshold, whereinthe model-specific cost threshold is higher than the step-specific costthreshold, wherein the workflow process modeling language comprisesBusiness Process Execution Language (BPEL).
 19. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 18, wherein the plurality of workflow process steps ofthe workflow process model further includes a fifth workflow processstep having a step-specific cost attribute: (i) that is a predefinedfunction of a transaction property comprising a resource amount, of afifth resource type, that is used by the first transaction in traversingthe fifth workflow process step; and (ii) that is not a function of anenvironment property comprising a degree of overall utilization of thefifth resource type in the processing environment at a time that thefirst transaction traverses the fifth workflow process step.
 20. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the plurality ofworkflow process steps of the workflow process model further includes asixth workflow process step having a step-specific cost attribute: (i)that is a predefined function of an environment property comprising adegree of overall utilization of a sixth resource type in the processingenvironment at a time that the first transaction traverses the sixthworkflow process step; and (ii) that is not a function of a transactionproperty comprising a resource amount, of the sixth resource type, thatis used by the first transaction in traversing the sixth workflowprocess step.